Kidnapping: Wealthy families relocate to avoid kidnappers

Wealthy families from rural areas in Adamawa State are relocating to major towns to avoid being kidnapped.

A resident of Girei, Mamman Shuaibu said he was forced to move to Jimeta metropolis for fear of kidnap gangs who terrorised the neighbourhood and abducted people at will.

The business man said he decided to abandon his newly built house after many of his neighbours or their family members were picked by armed gangs and made to pay ransom.

“I relocated to Jimeta with my wife and children after seeing what happened to my neighbours. I know I am a target. The kidnappers abduct family members if their target is not at home. So I felt I am not safe in my house and in my area. I have no option than to abandon my house and move to a safe area”, he said.

Also, a school teacher in Fufore area, who did not want his identity revealed, said that majority of medium scale traders in the villages do not spend the night in their houses for fear of abduction.

“Ask anybody around, you will find out how bad the situation is. The kidnappers are everywhere, so anybody perceived to be rich is a target. As a result, many people including my friends do not sleep in their villages. Some have permanently moved to Jimeta, Yola or Mubi”, he said.

Activities of kidnappers have become rampant in the state in recent time despite arrest of hundreds of suspects by the police.

High profile cases included the kidnapping of two professors with Moddibo

Adama University of Technology Yola, who were forcefully abducted from their houses at different times. A Divisional Police Officer in charge of Mubi was abducted few months ago while driving in his car.

The murder of high ranking members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, vigilantes leaders and a pastor by suspected kidnappers made the studio even worse.

In recent weeks youths in Girei had staged a protest against alleged plans to release kidnap suspected they helped the police to arrest, an allegation the police denied.

Reacting to the protest, the spokesman of Adamawa Police Command, DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, denied the allegation, saying suspected kidnappers were standing trial at various courts in the state as the police were committed to improving security.

Kidnapping for ransom had compounded security situation in the north eastern state where Boko Haram insurgents carried out attacks that killed many people and destroyed property.